Best Skincare for Oily Skin: Cleansing, Hydrating, Acne

Have you noticed your face is shiny or oily, your makeup slipping off easily, and breakouts? If that is the case for you, now is the time to take control of your skincare and achieve healthy-looking results!

Oily skin can be frustrating and challenging to manage, but achieving a healthy, clear complexion is possible with the proper skincare for oily skin routine. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about caring for oily skin, including the causes of oily skin, how to choose the right products and the best practices for daily skincare.

Understanding Oily Skin

Oily skin develops when your sebaceous glands produce too much sebum – the natural oil produced by your body that acts like a natural moisturizer – causing it to build up on your surface, leading to overproduction, leading to excess sebum, which in turn may contribute to problems such as acne.

Everybody possesses a few sebaceous glands in their bodies, with those most prominently on your face and scalp being most noticeable. These glands produce natural oils which nourish, hydrate, and protect your skin from environmental factors.

However, when sebaceous glands become overactive, oil can build up on your skin or become trapped within pores, which can become problematic and lead to further issues.

There are a few steps you can take to help manage oily skin. First and foremost, wash your face twice daily – in the morning and before bed.

Facial cleansing will help remove debris, makeup, and dead skin cells that clog your pores and lead to breakouts. When selecting a cleanser for this process, choose one with gentle cleansing agents that won’t strip your skin of its essential natural oils.

Exfoliation can also help remove dead skin cells and impurities that clog your pores. However, do it only once weekly, or it could irritate your skin too much.

Water is one of the best ways to keep your skin hydrated, preventing it from producing too much oil. It would help to moisturize it after cleansing to protect it against becoming dry.

Overall, it’s up to you to discover which combination of tips works for your skin type; by understanding it better and understanding its needs, however, your skincare routine will become even more effective and help restore its radiance! Feel free to ask any questions regarding oily skin or acne treatment – don’t hesitate! We are more than happy to assist.

Cleansing and Exfoliating

Cleansing should be the foundation of your skincare routine, helping to remove dirt, sweat, and makeup from the skin’s surface. Exfoliation follows shortly afterward by clearing dead cells from its surface that build up over time.

Exfoliation can be completed using chemical and physical exfoliants, depending on your skin type and desired product. Chemical exfoliants tend to be gentler on your skin’s surface since they contain acids that dissolve proteins on its surface while helping break up bonds between dead skin cells.

Decide which exfoliator best meets your needs by speaking to a skin specialist or dermatologist about what type would suit your particular needs and concerns. They will advise which products would be ideal for your skin type and offer safety tips on using them effectively.

When choosing a chemical exfoliant, look for natural and safe ingredients such as BHAs or fruit enzymes to unclog pores, reduce breakouts, and even out your complexion. These solutions may also unclog pores quickly.

Physical exfoliants contain small granules designed to loosen dead skin cells from your pores and eliminate them through body scrubs, brushes, or gloves that should be applied on wet skin.

Garnier SkinActive Exfoliating Face Scrub is an exceptional solution for oily skin that utilizes salicylic acid to unclog pores while exfoliating gently. Infused with green tea extracts for a fantastic experience that won’t disappoint!

Moisturizing and Hydrating

Even people without acne can benefit from daily moisturizer usage to prevent dehydration (and oiliness), known to trigger acne breakouts and breakouts. Moisturizing helps avoid dehydration which in turn may help prevent acne outbreaks altogether.

The best moisturizers for oily skin should be lightweight and non-comedogenic to avoid clogging pores while retaining moisture through ingredients like humectants and emollients that bind water onto skin surfaces.

Moisturizers come in all forms: creams, lotions, and gels. Lotions and gels tend to be lighter alternatives to creams, which are thicker and richer.

For an extra hydration boost, look for serums containing hyaluronic acid. This ingredient attracts and holds water into your skin’s layers for extended hydration than traditional moisturizers can offer.

Look for products with other hydrating ingredients, such as sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, for the best skin-plumping and smoothing results. These ingredients may help your skin appear plumper and more supple.

Some moisturizers contain acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, but most importantly, they’re non-comedogenic and oil-free.

Finding your ideal moisturizer requires trying a range of formulas and seeing which works best with your skin. A great test would be applying small amounts of each product on your skin to see how they feel – this will allow for comparison between formulas.

Focus on how quickly the moisturizer absorbs; twice daily is ideal for maximum results. Use a thicker cream during the day and a light one at night for extra hydration.

Treating and Preventing Acne

Acne is a skin condition caused by overactive oil glands and clogged pores, with triggers including genetics, hormone changes, or stress as possible sources.

Treating acne effectively means keeping the skin clear by decreasing sebum production and excess oils, whether changing your diet, using gentle skincare treatments, or consulting a dermatologist about the prescribed medication.

Always wash your face regularly with lukewarm water to remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and any debris that might block pores and clog them up while trying to refrain from rubbing your face, as this may exacerbate conditions further.

Squeezing pimples should also be avoided. This can push infected material deeper into your skin, leading to further swelling, redness, and scarring.

Having difficulty treating acne? Speak to your physician or dermatologist about medication, such as antibiotics or topical creams/gels, that might help. Oral isotretinoin (retinoids) can also significantly decrease oil gland size and should be prescribed – your dermatologist might even consider prescribing isotretinoin as it has shown a remarkable reduction.

Cosmetic clay masks can also effectively solve oily skin issues, helping absorb excess oil and minimize acne breakouts. French green clay is recommended as it’s a natural humectant, drawing moisture out without too much skin drying.

Clay masks can be applied to the skin for approximately 15 minutes before being rinsed off with water – providing gentler care than peel-off masks which can irritate and increase oil production.

Choose products that are oil-free and non-comedogenic – meaning they won’t clog pores or cause acne – such as soaps, moisturizers, and makeup. These types of products can often be found at pharmacies.

Lifestyle Changes

If you’re experiencing oily skin, there are certain lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve its appearance. These may include reducing stress, improving heart health, quitting smoking, and staying hydrated.

Make these changes consistently, as your skin may improve as soon as you adopt these habits.

Eating healthy foods can dramatically impact how your skin appears and feels. Eating green vegetables such as spinach and kale will help your body regulate how much sebum your pores produce, leading to fewer breakouts.

Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which will help clear away skin impurities. Plus, these veggies contain anti-aging antioxidants!

Foods that are high in saturated fats should also be avoided to minimize inflammation and increase oil production by your skin. Familiar sources include red meats, butter, cream cheese, pastries, and pizza.

Avoid caffeine, as studies have demonstrated its effects to decrease insulin sensitivity, worsen inflammation, and worsen acne conditions.

Avoid processed and junk foods to maintain stable blood sugar levels and to minimize skin oil production by your body.

Additionally, dairy products should be avoided to help avoid clogging pores and producing excess oil on your skin. Instead, consider opting for healthier options like almond or soy milk, which have proven more beneficial regarding skin benefits.

References: Skincare For Oily Skin

Oily Skin: A Review of Treatment Options – PMC (nih.gov)

Oily sensitive skin: A review of management options – PubMed (nih.gov)